Endangered and Threatened Species: Status Review Updates for Snake River Sockeye Salmon and Southern California Steelhead; and Additional Information Request for Nine Evolutionarily Significant Units of West Coast Steelhead

Resumen

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is currently reviewing the status of 25 Evolutionarily Significant Units (ESUs) of salmon and steelhead (Oncorhynchus spp.) that are currently listed as threatened or endangered species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, as amended, or listed as a candidate species. NMFS is announcing that it will also be updating the status of two additional anadromous salmonid ESUs currently listed as endangered species: Snake River sockeye salmon (O. nerka) and Southern California steelhead (O. mykiss). NMFS is also announcing that its status review updates for all listed steelhead ESUs will also address resident rainbow trout (O. mykiss) populations associated with each ESU. To ensure that these status reviews are complete and based upon the best available scientific information, NMFS is soliciting information and data regarding the status of these ESUs, including information on resident rainbow trout populations associated with steelhead ESUs. These status review updates will be completed after a revision of NMFS' policy regarding the consideration of hatchery fish in ESA status reviews of Pacific salmonids. At such time that the status